I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst? I crafted a lot as a kid, my grandmother taught me how to knit at the age of 4 (which I never fully appreciated the patience she must have had until I had my own 4 year old). I have gone through fits and spurts of crafting throughout my life since then, but I’d have to say when I had children in 1998, I really got into sewing and making all kinds of things for them. Its all just continued from there and creating is a part of my daily life now.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ‘style’ and really hit your making stride? Writing a blog really showed me what my own style actually is. I never stopped to take photos and talk about what I made before I started blogging, but I can look back through older posts and see there is a common thread that I never saw there before (I honestly never picked up on just how much I like blue and green, for example).

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it? Making things is a way to just escape. It usually requires a lot of focus, and at the same time it clears my mind. So much of my day is taken up multi-tasking, but sitting and making something really allows me to focus and relax. I also believe that when we my family uses things that are handmade that we’re less likely to look at that as disposable. It just makes us more thoughtful in that regard, which is good.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Our May feature artist is Amy Bethune.

Amy Bethune from the B-line – Amy also runs an etsy store, she lives in Michigan.Main craft of choice: jewelry designCraft hero: Martha Stewart–I know she has an empire of folks that help, but she comes up with some amazing things.
Fave web site: many! but the pioneer woman is an inspiration.Fave crafty materials supplier: rio grande

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?I’ve always loved to make things, but I got more serious about making jewelry about a year and a half ago. I was actually going through a rough time and being creative helped to lift my spirits. I got hooked on beading first, and then started working with polymer clay when I found I had ideas for “beads” that weren’t available.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ‘style’ and really hit your making stride?I’d say most people are drawn to and recognize my work through my corsage collection, the line that began from my work with polymer clay. It took me just a few months (after opening the b-line on etsy) to make those designs a regular part of my shop.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?I find it therapeutic to create. It calms my mind. And it gives me great joy to know that other people enjoy wearing my designs.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – Our August feature artist is Maya Donenfeld from Maya*Made.

Maya Donenfeld’s website is maya*made – her etsy online store is found here, and she lives in upstate NY, USA.Main craft of choice: printing, but sewing is a super close secondCraft hero: Without hesitation, grandfather. When he was younger he had the ability to make anything he found interesting or necessary. Although all of his crafts had a utilitarian bent, all were made with such precision and beauty.Fave web site (whipup of course but do you have another fave?): There are so many good ones out there. I have favorites for different topics, but if I had just one to choose from it might be Amy Karol’s Angry Chicken. Her blog is filled with all the things I love: sewing, crafting, parenting, and fun little bits of this and that. There are many wonderful blogs that cover these topics, but her dry wit and sense of humor always catch me off guard. I love that.Fave crafty materials supplier: I find a lot of supplies at thrift stores and antique shops and, of course, Etsy. My favorite place to pick up recycled burlap is at my local coffee roasters.

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst? My family is EXTREMELY creative. My mother has always inspired me with her own work and encouraged me with mine. In fact, she made me a carpenter’s workbench from salvaged materials when I was around 5. It was in my bedroom fully stocked with supplies at all times.Talk about setting the stage for exploration. I also remember my very first sewing book… from that era. Oh, I’d love to get my hands on it for my kids!

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ‘style’ and really hit your making stride? My style has been fairly consistent (with a few deviations) for years. I’m drawn to natural color palettes and always inspired by nature. I didn’t hit my stride, though, until I opened my etsy shop in November 08. Making things on a broader scale has taught me so much.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it? It feeds my need to be resourceful in a big way. On a deeper level, I seem to have this insatiable appetite for learning new skills. Problem solving and mastering something new just make me really happy. Creating beauty out of ordinary materials is exhilarating.

over the next couple of weeks we are going to find out a little more about the wonderful makers featured in the 2010 whipup calendar – starting with Susan Chi (Tada’s Revolution). Susan’s Grand Theft Auto, fun gorgeous characters crocheted with yarn – is our wonderful fun and quirky cover image.

I asked all our participants to answer a few questions about their creative process:

1. When did you start making/crafting, and who or what inspired that first creative burst?I first learned to draw when I was three years old. When I was growing up, I used to spent time around my uncle and cousin who were painting pictures all the time. I started to draw every day, whatever I could find, including my grandpa, and carrots.

2. What would you say was that light-bulb moment when you discovered your ‘style’ and really hit your making stride?I constantly find inspiration in art and nature, and I think that my style constantly evolves. Often going through phases. If you look closely at a string of my pieces or photo sets, you can usually pick up on my obsessions of the moment.

3. Why do you make – what do you get out of it?Crafting and art has become a central thread of my life, and it is hard for me to picture life without doing arts or crafts of some sort. When I craft, it brings me order, peace, and happiness.

The whipup 2009 calendar features 13 artists/makers/designers whose work has been featured on whipup. This year I hand picked the participants but next year I hope to open it up for everyone. Over the next 13 days I will be featuring each of the participants – so you can get to know them (if you don’t already) a little better.

April featured artist is Mimi Kirchner: www.mimikirchner.com/blog. Mimi is a fibre artist and doll maker. Her dolls are beyond amazing, with extraordinary attention to detail and personality.